Reel Retro - City Of Ember

This film slipped under the metaphorical radar of almost everyone when it was released. The marketing alone makes me vomit madly in distaste, some of the most inept film promo posters I have seen. I manged to find the coolest one to save your retinas burning, readers. After a poor reception and a slow uptake, it truly has became in my view an underdog of childrens' films for the last decade.
City Of Ember is a great example of what a good budget, kiddy safe storyline, great acting and an adventurous script can produce. Welcome again to the far flung future. The storyline follows a bunch of kids who, embark on a grand adventure when they start to notice the world around them (that is actually deep under the ground) is starting to fall apart.
With distant tales of the surface, and how to get there, they hatch a plan to escape The City Of Ember and start anew.
The society the film shows is so quaint: children as of a certain age are all assigned occupations, all of the jobs in the city been designed around the need for survival through constant maintenance of a rusty and derelict system that gives the people electricity (light, food, water) so deep underground.
The failings of the film seem to be in the complexity of the storyline that would have a five or six year old struggle with it, but there's enough action and whimsical events to keep young eyes occupied. As an adult however I loved it and was particularly impressed with the acting abilities of the cast, as well as the contributions of some Hollywood veterans.
A must watch if you are looking for a decent family film for all ages.